Microsoft raised a record $72 million in its employee giving campaign this year, and natural disasters both near and far have prompted an outpouring of generosity recently.

New non-profits have taken their appeals online in innovative ways through sites such as Kiva.org and GlobalGiving. I wrote a story about them here. And Carol Pucci actually went to visit the people she loaned money to here.

But since we're counting down to the week before Christmas, avoiding the retail hordes might be a more compelling reason to explore philanthropy through the Internet.

The Case Foundation started a program called America's Giving Challenge that lets people campaign online for the charity of their choice. The top 100 non-profits get $1,000 and the top eight get $50,000.

Washington Cash uses the microfinance model to help small business in the state.